Staff profiles
Revd
Dr Richard Walton
Reader in education; BSc, MEd, MA, PhD, CPhys, MInstP, PGCE
Phone 0114 225 4890
E-mail r.j.walton@shu.ac.uk
Research interests/current work
Current doctoral supervision
- David Barker: Pattern formation in Primary mathematics
- Gareth Price: Creativity in the classroom
Previous research students
- Sirinoot Teanrungroj: The development of an innovative integrated approach to ICT mediated learning in Science (2005) (with Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand)
- Chanawat Bunnag: A Development of an Extra Science Curriculum with emphasis upon Community Resources (2005)(with Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand)
- Christopher Simpson: The expression of classical rhetoric in televisual advertising: portraying science and scientists
- Marilyn Brodie: Undergraduates' personal constructs: classroom teaching and the role of the teacher
Within the Centre for Science Education I have responsibility for directing our regional STEM activity which includes managing the regional STEMNET contract. This involves both the STEM Ambassadors scheme and providing STEM advice and guidance to all schools and colleges in the region. In addition, I direct our public STEM programmes in the region. This externally funded work builds upon my research in the field of the psychological and philosophical underpinning to learning in informal situations.
I am a priest in the Church of England - my MA dissertation in theology drew upon my background in philosophy by looking at the influence upon catholic thought of the French neo-Thomists: Etienne Gilson and Jacques Maritain.
Research collaborations
I have collaborated in the joint supervision of doctoral students with Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand and the University of Bologna. I have also contributed to seminars for research staff and PhD students in the Universities of Groningen, Netherlands; Matej Bel University, Slovak Republic; Comenius University, Slovak Republic.
Research outputs: key publications since 2001
Journals
Walton, R.J (2006) Heidegger in the Hands-on Science and Technology Centre: some philosophical reflections (reprint) The Pantaneto Forum (23) July 2006
Walton, R.J. (2005) Bridging the Gap: Training Science Teachers in Science Museums and Other Informal Settings. Proceedings of the 3rd International GIREP Seminar: Informal Learning and Public Understanding of Physics, Ljubljana, Slovenia 5-9 September
Walton, R.J., (2004) Back to the Future: The British Association in York, Annual Report for 2003, Yorkshire Philosophical Society
Walton, R.J. (2002) Scientific Knowledge and Democratic Choice, ECSITE Newsletter Winter 2002, ECSITE, Brussels, Belgium
Walton, R.J. (2002) Wyklady dla szerokiej publiznosci, a rozumienie nauk przyrodniczych w spoleczenstwie, Nauczanie Przedmiotow Przyrodniczych, nr 5 3/2002, Torun, Poland
Walton, R.J. (2002) The Nature of Science as an Element in Undergraduate Science Teacher Education Courses, Acta Universitatis Matthiae Belii, Seria Fyzika V/2002, Banska Bystrica, Slovak Republic.
Walton, R.J. (2001) Public Lectures and the Public Understanding of Science, Science and Mathematics Teaching for the Information Society, July 19-22, 2000 Torun, Poland
Books
Walton, R.J. (2009) Science and Society in Sharp, J, Ward, S., Hankin, L., (2009) Education Studies: An Issue Based Approach, Poole: Learning Matters (2nd Edition)
Denholm, A., (2008) Teaching Science to Parents: Inproving the achievement and engagement of children, Sheffield Sheffield Hallam University Press. Bevins S.C and Walton R.J. (eds.)
Walton, R.J. (ed) (2003) A Reference Guide to Corus Curriculum Support Materials for Primary, Secondary and Post-16 Education (4ed), Wetherby, CorusEducation.
Walton, R.J. (2002) Science Teaching and the Public Understanding of Science, Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University Press.
Recent conference papers and reports
Walton, R.J. (2010) From Formal to Informal: Researching STEM in Informal Settings, Inaugural meeting of the Netherlands Education Research Association Informal Learning Group, University of Amsterdam, January 2010
Walton, R.J. (2010) 'Science Progression into HE; are we training the right teachers?' Science Community Representing Education (SCORE) Annual Conference 2010, Royal Society, February 2010
Walton, R.J. (2008) EU-Train Project Interim Final Report (September 2008), SOCRATES Programme Evaluation Comenius 2.1 Action (Training of School Education Staff)
